Boom construction



March 1964 R. D. KAUFFMAN 'ETAL 2 BOOM CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 10, 1961 a q u INVENTORS i0) flAW/[L KAI/FFMAW,

* ATTORNEYS March 1964 R. D. KAUFFMAN ETAL 3,125,227

BOOM CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10, 1961 S 8 m a? n m# m A M 0 M w MFMF F A 0 M 4 K N a A M0 2 4 5 0 ra w w 6 m Q m g United States Patent 3,125,227 BOOM CONSTRUCTION Roy D. Kautlman, 512 Northwest Drive, George Allen Kauifman, 709 Tanley Road, and Jay Roy Kautlman, 11820 Gordon Read, all of Silver Spring, Md.

Filed July 10, 1961, Ser. No. 122,713 13 Claims. (Cl. 212-144) This invention relates generally to improvements in boom constructions and is directed particularly to a new and novel separable or demountable construction.

In the operation of booms or cranes in cities or congested manufacturing areas the need for a boom of considerable length is often present. This poses quite a problem of movement or transportation of the boom, since it is not feasible to move a long boom in a raised or elevated position through a city or in an area where there may be overhead wires or other things such as trees and the like and on the other hand, it is not feasible to move such a long boom through city streets or in congested areas with the boom lowered to a substantially horizontal position.

The present practice consists in disassembling the boom and placing at least some of the sections on a separate carrier structure such as a flat-bed truck or the like, thereby moving some of the boom sections on one piece of apparatus and moving the tractor structure with possibly one of the sections, on which the boom is set up, as a separate unit.

It is accordingly a particular object of the present invention to provide a multiple section boom construction wherein novel means is provided for facilitating the transportation of all of the sections by and on the tractor structure on which the boom is set up for use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel boom or crane construction made up of a multiplicity of sections including a jib section constructed in a novel manner, whereby it may be easily and quickly set up as an extension of a conventional trussed section, the jib section being formed as a onepiece longitudinally tapered pole which can be readily handled by one man in the operation of assembling and disassembling the parts of the boom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a crane or boom construction a novel means associated with a section of the boom for facilitating the stacking of the sections and coupling the same together in a suspended relation one with the other whereby the several sections may be readily transported by and without removing a main section from the tractor machine.

More specifically the present invention is directed to a novel arrangement of boom-on-boom or jib-on-jib for the setting up of a long boom with means for efiectively coupling together and bracing the different sections so as to maintain the same effectively in substantially aligned working relation. A terminal jib section is provided having transversely spaced foot plates between which the head of an intermediate or extension section is adapted to be positioned and secured by the use of a bolt and nut assembly or by the use of a pin and cotter key assembly and which foot plates further support an A frame carrying a working cable supporting sheave and also carrying means for readily attaching bracing cables to the top end thereof.

A further novel feature associated with the jib section is the provision of a hanger pivotally supported between the foot plates and designed to be operatively coupled with and between foot plates forming a part of the extension boom section whereby to facilitate the suspension of the jib section in cooperation with other suspending means when the boom sections are stacked for transportation.

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The invention further contemplates the provision of a new and novel method of coupling together in suspended relation a number of boom sections for facilitating the ready transportation of the same by means of the same tractor machine on which the boom is set up for use and by which the boom is manipulated.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detail description taken in connec tion with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view illlustrating the boom construction of the present invention as set up for use, the illustration being more or less diagrammatic in character.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the foot end of the jib boom section or terminal section illustrating the foot plates together with the manner of mounting the A frame and the suspension unit on the foot plates.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the jib boom section showing the form of the body thereof and illustrating the mounting for the terminal sheave.

FIG. 4 is a view in transverse section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 77 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the stacked assembly of the boom sections for transporting the same.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary detail illustrating one suspension yoke used in association with the stacking of the sections.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen upon reference to the assembled View of the boom construction as comprised in FIG. 1, that such construction comprises three boom sections which are adapted to be detachably connected in end-to-end relation and suitably braced by connecting cables to maintain them in this substantially aligned relation.

The boom sections illustrated comprise the main boom section which is generally designated 10, an extension boom section generally designated 12 and a terminal jib boom section generally designated 14.

The main and extension boom sections are of the conventional trussed or so-called laced construction of square or rectangular cross sectional design and embodying transv versely and vertically spaced top and bottom longitudinal beams, which may be tubular in form, connected by oblique lacing bars.

In the main boom section, which is shown in side elevation in FIGS. 1 and 8, two vertically spaced longitudinal members are shown which are designated 16 and which are connected by the interposed lacing 18 and it will be understood that there are two corresponding longitudinal members 16 which make up the rectangular cross section of the structure.

The base and head ends of the main boom section are designated 20 and 22 respectively. The base end 20 is adapted to be pivotally connected in a suitable manner as at 24 to means 26 carried by and connecting the boom construction with the tractor machine or other movable structure in association with which the crane or boom is operated.

The extension boom section 12 is of less length than the main section 10 but is likewise made up of longitudinally extending top and bottom side or corner beams, which may be of tubular form and which are designated 26 and are coupled together by the conventional lacing 28.

The foot end of the extension boom 26 is designated 30 and comprises a pair of transversely spaced foot plates 32 which receive between them the extension arms 34 forming integral continuations of the side portions of the head 22 of the main boom. A coupling pin 36 extends through the extensions 34 and the plates 32 to connect the boom sections together.

The head 22 of the main boom is shown as including the transversely spaced side plates 38 to which the forwardly extending arms 34 are secured. These side plates 38 are connected rearwardly of their forward ends by the transverse pivot pin 40 on which is mounted midway between the plates the pulley 42.

The forward ends of the side plates 38 are here shown as mounted on and connected by the arcuate face plate 44.

The head of the extension boom is generally designated 46 and this is illustrated as including the transversely spaced side plates 48 which are connected by the transversely extending coupling and pivot pin 50. The pin 50 supports midway between the plates 48 the pulley 52 and the outer ends of the pins 50 are utilized for effecting the attachment to the head of the extension boom of the hereinafter described bracing or strain cable.

The plates 48 are also shown as having rounded forward edges and these are connected by the curved or arcuate face plate 54.

The side plates 48 also have secured thereto and extending forwardly therefrom the short arms 56.

The jib boom 14 is of materially less length than the extension boom 12, preferably about half the length of the latter and this jib boom embodies a single or one-piece pole 58 of steel or iron and which pole is preferably tubular as shown in FIG. 3, and in addition tapers slightly from the rear or foot end to the head end thereof.

The pole here illustrated is of octagonal cross section and the foot end is fixed by welding to the web of a cross channel member 60 and this cross channel member in turn is welded to and connects the forward edges of two transversely spaced foot plates 62 by having the flanges 60a of the member 60 let into the edges of the plates 62.

The pole 58, in addition to being welded to the channel member 60, is joined thereto by a number of bracing webs 64 of elongated triangular form, the base of each web being welded to the forward face of the channel member 60 while the side of the angle lies along one corner of the pole and is welded thereto as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6.

Each of the side or foot plates 32 at the foot of the extension section 12 has a portion extending above the adjacent section and is provided with a cable connecting opening 66, which is located forwardly of an above the coupling pin 36.

Each of these plates has connected to the top thereof one side of an A frame which is generally designated 67 and is supported on a cross pin 68 which connects the top ends of the plates 32.

The numeral 70 generally designates a forward A frame which is mounted upon the foot plates 62 at the rear or foot end of the jib boom 14. The details of this A frame are clearly illustrated in FIG. 2 and are shown as comprising the downwardly divergent side portions 72 which are connected by the intermediate web 74 and which side portions have the lower end extension legs 76.

The web portion 74 supports by a pivot pin 78, suitably mounted thereon, the pulley 80.

At the top end of the A frame 70 the side members 72 are connected by the upwardly directed fork 82 which supports between the sides thereof the pin 84 which is provided for the attachment of bracing or strain cables 86 and 88.

The legs 76 straddle the top ends of the foot plates 62 and are connected to the foot plates by the cross bolt 90.

The foot plates 62 have formed therethrough below the bolt 90 bossed openings 92 for receiving a coupling pin 94 arid these plates 62 have the forward apertured ends of the arms 56 disposed against the inner sides thereof, the pin 94 passing through the arms to establish the de- '4 sired connection between the head of the extension boom and the foot portion of the jib boom.

The head of the jib boom pole 58 carries a transverse pivot bolt 96 which passes transversely through the two forwardly extending portions 98 of the jib pole formed by slotting, or bifucating the end of the pole, and these portions, or furcations, 98 have mounted therebetween, on the pivot bolt 96, the cable pulley 100. Positioned in the slot between the furcations 98 and on each side of the pulley 100, is the vertically disposed shield plate 102. Each plate is secured to the inner side of the adjacent furcation and projects above and below the pole and pulley to protect the pulley from injury.

Spacers 102a are placed on the pivot bolt 96 between the pulley and the plates.

The furcations or portions 98 of the pole may be formed either by cutting the pole itself or, if desired, the pole may have two forwardly extending spaced members rigidly secured to the end thereof. In the illustration here made of the construction the pole is slotted, the slot being designated 164.

There is also provided on the underside of the pole the centrally located depending web 106 which is provided with an opening 108 in which a hook may be connected or which may have an end of the lift or hoist cable run therethrough and secured therein, as shown in FIG. 1.

When the sections of the boom are assembled in endto-end relation, as shown in FIG. 1, a pair of bracing cables 110 and 112 are attached in a conventional manner to the top end of the A frame 67, and the other two ends of the cable 110 are secured in a suitable manner at the foot of the main boom 10 as at 114, while the two ends of the cable 112 are run forwardly and are attached as shown in FIG. 6, to the ends of the pin 50 on the outer sides of the plates 48. The extension boom 12 and the jib boom 14 are likewise joined by the hereinbefore referred to cables 86 and 83 to maintain these two sections securely in operative alignment. The cable 86 is looped around the pin 84 at the top of the A frame 70 and the ends are extended rearwardly and downwardly to and secured in the openings 66 in the foot plates 32 at the foot portion 36 of the extension boom.

The cable 88 is likewise looped around the, pin 84 and the ends thereof are carried forwardly and are secured as illustrated in FIG. 3, to the ends of the pivot pin 96 which supports the pulley 100.

In addition to being looped around the pin 84, it will be seen upon reference to FIG. 2, that the cables are looped one through the other. Thus, in the event of breakage of the pin 84 the two cables 86 and 88 will not separate.

In addition to providing support for the A frame 70, the plates 62 at the foot of the jib boom support a hanger member on the pin 90, which hanger member is generally designated 116. This hanger members is disigned to swing between the plates 62 and as shown, it comprises a steel plate 118 along two opposite end edges of which plate are secured by welding the sleeves 120 and 122. As shown in FIG. 2, the sleeve 120 has the bolt 90 extended therethrough so that the hanger plate 116 is permanently coupled with this bolt. This hanger plate is designed to facilitate the coupling of the foot portion of the jib boom 14 with the foot portion of the extension boom 12 in the operation of suspension stacking the boom sections for transportation, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8.

When the boom sections are disconnected one from the other to be transported, they are joined together one over the other or in the stacked suspended relationship by first disposing the extension section 12 longitudinally beneath the main boom section 10 and coupling the sections together by a pair of slings 124. Each of these slings may be constructed in the manner shown in FIG. 9, where the sling is shown as comprising a short length of cable 126 having each of its ends secured as at 128 to a suitable hook 130 designed to be engaged over a lower side beam or rail 16 of the main boom. The sling is extended through the extension boom 12 beneath the top side rails thereof as illustrated and the hooks connected to the main boom.

As will be obvious from a consideration of FIG. 8, the A frame 67 is turned or swung down onto the extension boom to an out of the way position.

After the extension boom 12 has been hung beneath the main boom the jib boom is disposed horizontally beneath the extension boom and the suspension plate 116 has the sleeve 122 disposed between the foot plates 32 and the coupling pin 36 is then utilized to connect the suspension member 116 to the foot plates. Here again the A frame is swung down to the out of the way position shown on the jib boom 14.

The head or forward end of the jib boom is then joined to the overlying extension boom by a suitable cable 131 wrapped around the jib boom and passed through the extension boom and secured in a suitable manner.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is provided by the present invention a new and novel boom construction in which the several sections are designed in a novel manner which facilitates the quick and easy separation of the same for transportation and which also facilitates the easy assemblage of the sections into operative relationship when the crane arrives on the job. For the easy transportation of the sections, a novel means is shown whereby the jib boom section may be coupled to the other sections in the suspended stacked relation shown, to be carried with the other sections by the same power mechanism on which the boom is mounted for operation, thereby eliminating the necessity of employing a separate truck to carry the additional jib boom section.

A particularly novel feature of the boom construction which facilitates the said stacking of the same resides in the provision of the hanger plate or hanger unit 116 which forms a permanent part of or is permanently attached to the foot portion of the jib boom, the attachment of the hanger unit being such that it can be easily and quickly swung into working position when the A frame 79 has been folded down against the jib boom pole in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims, and all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. In a crane construction, embodying a main boom section having a head and foot portion adapted for attachment to a supporting base and an extension boom section; the combination with said sections of spaced foot plates at one end of the extension boom section for receiving the head of the main boom section, means coupling said head to said foot plates, means for maintaining said sections in working alignment, a terminal jib section having a foot portion formed to receive the head of said extension boom section, bracing means coupling the foot portion of the extension boom with the jib boom section and maintaining the same in working alignment, a sheave upon the head of the jib boom section, means carried by the extension and jib boom sections for operatively supporting a work cable longitudinally of all of the sections for extension over the sheave, the said work cable supporting means including A frames mounted upon the foot portions of the extension boom section and the jib boom section.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the said foot portion of the jib boom section embodies a pair of spaced parallel plates between which a part of the head 6. end of the extension boom section is positioned and a coupling pin extending through said plates and said part of the head end of the extension boom.

3. In a crane construction embodying a main boom section having a head portion and a foot portion, the foot portion being adapted for attachment to a supporting base and an extension boom section; the combination with said sections of spaced longitudinally extending foot plates at one end of the extension boom section and forming the foot portion of the latter, means for securing the head portion of the main boom section to and between said foot plates, means for maintaining said boom sections in working alignment, a terminal jib section having a foot portion formed to receive the head portion of said extension boom section, means separably securing the last named head portion to the jib boom foot portion, bracing means coupling the foot portion of the extension boom section with the head end of the jib boom for maintaining the latter sections in working alignment, a sheave supported upon the head end of the jib boom section, upstanding pulley carrying frames supported at the foot end of the jib boom section and said extension boom section for supporting a work cable extending longitudinally of the construction and passing over said sheave, and the penultimate means comprising a pair of arms carried by and extending forwardly from opposite sides of the head end of the extension boom section and adapted to overlap at their forward ends opposite sides of the jib boom foot portion and a coupling pin extending through said arms and said opposite sides of the jib boom foot portion.

4. The invention according to claim 3, wherein said jib boom section comprises a single one piece pole member and said foot portion of the jib boom comprises a base plate extending across the foot end of said pole member and a pair of longitudinally extending foot plates spaced apart transversely of the pole member and rigidly joined to said base plate.

5. In a crane construction embodying a main boom section, an intermediate extension boom section and means operatively coupling said main boom section and intermediate extension boom sections together; the combination with said sections of a jib boom section, a foot end for said intermediate boom section comprising a pair of transversely spaced plates each having a top portion projecting above the adjacent boom section, an A frame having a pair of leg extensions attached to the said top portions of said plates and having a top end with means for securing a cable thereto, said plates comprising in part the said means for coupling the main boom section and intermediate extension boom section together, said terminal jib boom section embodying a one piece pole and a pair of one piece foot plates at one end thereof and said foot plates having upwardly tapering portions extending above the adjacent pole, said intermediate extension boom section having a head end adapted to position between the foot plates of the jib boom section, a pivot pin coupling the last mentioned foot plates with the head end of the extension boom section, a second A frame having a pair of leg extensions adapted to straddle the upwardly extending tapered upper ends of the last mentioned foot plates, a pivot pin extending across between the tapered upstanding ends of the last mentioned foot plates and pivotally coupling the legs of the second A frame thereto, said intermediate extension boom section having a head end adapted to position between said last mentioned foot plates below said tapered ends, a pivot pin coupling the last mentioned foot plates and the head end of the intermediate extension boom section located therebetween, a pulley rotatably supported upon the head end of the jib boom section, the first mentioned A frame being adapted to have bracing cables connected thereto for extension one to the foot end of the main boom section and the other cable for extension to the head end of the extension boom section and the second A frame being adapted to have a pair of cables connected thereto for extension to the foot plates of the extension boom section and the other cable for extension to the head end of the jib boom section.

6. The invention according to claim 5, with means pivotally coupled to and between the said extended, tapered upper ends of the foot plates of the jib boom section and adapted for attachment to and between the foot plates of the intermediate extension boom section for supporting the foot portion of the jib boom section beneath the intermediate extension boom section for transportation.

7. In a crane construction wherein there is a main boom section and an extension boom section; the combination with said sections of a jib boom section having a foot portion and a head end, means for coupling together the first two sections and the jib boom section for transportation with the extension boom section disposed beneath the main boom section and the jib boom section disposed beneath the extension boom section, said means comprising at least two slings suspending the extension boom section from the overlying main boom section, a hanger member having two ends, means pivotally coupling one of said ends to the foot portion of said jib boom section whereby the hanger member may be carried as a permanent part of the jib boom section, means for detachably coupling the other end of said hanger member with one end of the overlying extension boom section, and means suspendingly connecting the head end of the jib boom section with the overlying extension boom section.

8. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the said means pivotally coupling one of the said ends of the hanger to the foot portion of said jib boom section comprises a pair of spaced foot plates forminga part of the jib boom section, said one end of the hanger member having a bearing sleeve positioned transversely between said foot plates and a pivot pin extending through said foot plates and through said sleeve and said means for detachably coupling the other end of the hanger member with said one end of the intermediate boom section includes a bearing sleeve on said other end of the hanger member and receiving a pin carried by said one end of the extension boom section.

9. The invention according to claim 7, wherein each of said slings comprises a length of cable and a hook member secured to each end thereof and the cable extends through the extension boom section and said hooks being engaged over opposite side portions of the main boom section.

10. The method of assembling for transportation with a crane main boom section mounted at one end upon a vehicular structure, an intermediate boom section and a terminal jib boom section, which comprises positioning and securing the main boom section in a lowered substantially horizontal position, disposing said intermediate extension boom section longitudinally beneath the main boom section, suspendingly attaching the intermediate boom section at at least two locations along its length to and below and substantially parallel with the main boom section, then disposing the jib boom section longitudinally beneath the intermediate boom section, connecting a hanger means with and between an end of the jib boom section and an end of the intermediate boom section and then suspendingly coupling the other end of the jib boom section to the overlying intermediate boom section.

11. A terminal jib boom section for connection with an end of a crane boom, said jib boom section comprising a metal pole, a base plate having one end of said pole secured to and against a face thereof, a pair of foot plates secured to said base plate in spaced parallel relation to one another and perpendicular to the side of the base plate remote from the pole, said foot plates being adapted to receive an end portion of a crane boom therebetween, said foot plates having openings therethrough aligned transversely thereof to receive a coupling pin by means of which the said end portion of said crane boom and the jib boom are coupled together, a pivot pin connected to and between said foot plates at a location thereon to lie above said coupling pin when the jib boom is operatively connected with the crane boom, a hanger member comprising a plate having a bearing sleeve secured on each of two opposite ends thereof, one of said bearing sleeves being disposed between said foot plates and having said pivot pin extending therethrough, said pole having the other end thereof bifurcated, a pulley sheave between the furcations, and a pivot bolt passing through the furcations and through and supporting said pulley.

12. A boom construction, comprising a main boom, 2. jib on the main boom and a terminal jib on the first jib, said terminal jib consisting of a pole having a base end and an outer end, a sheave on the outer end of the pole, said base end of the pole having a predetermined working position adjacent to the outer end portion of the first jib, an apertured member carried by the terminal jib, and means coupling said apertured member with the first jib adjacent to the outer end of the latter for supporting said terminal jib therefrom.

13. A boom construction comprising a main boom, a jib on the main boom and a terminal jib on the first jib, said terminal jib consisting of a rigid one piece pole having a base end and an outer end, a sheave on the outer end of the pole, said base end of the pole having a base plate fixed thereagainst and operatively connected with the outer end portion of the first jib, an apertured rigid vertical coupling means on and rigidly joined to said terminal jib, and a removable coupling between said ver tical coupling means and the first jib.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,920,370 Forsythe et al Aug. 1, 1933 1,941,952 Nickles Jan. 2, 1934 2,529,454 Marcantonio Nov. 7, 1950 2,772,790 Kaufiman Dec. 4, 1956 

1. IN A CRANE CONSTRUCTION, EMBODYING A MAIN BOOM SECTION HAVING A HEAD AND FOOT PORTION ADAPTED FOR ATTACHTION; THE COMBINATION WITH SAID SECTIONS OF SPACED FOOT PLATES AT ONE END OF THE EXTENSION BOOM SECTION FOR RECEIVING THE HEAD OF THE MAIN BOOM SECTION, MEANS COUPLING SAID HEAD TO SAID FOOT PLATES, MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID SECTIONS IN WORKING ALIGNMENT, A TERMINAL JIB SECTION HAVING A FOOT PORTION FORMED TO RECEIVE THE HEAD OF SAID EXTENSION BOOM SECTION, BRACING MEANS COUPLING THE FOOT PORTION OF THE EXTENSION BOOM WITH THE JIB BOOM SECTION AND MAINTAINING THE SAME IN WORKING ALIGNMENT, A SHEAVE UPON THE HEAD OF THE JIB BOOM SECTION, MEANS CARRIED BY THE EXTENSION AND JIB BOOM SECTION FOR OPERATIVELY SUPPORTING A WORK CABLE LONGITUDINALLY OF ALL OF THE SECTIONS FOR EXTENSION OVER THE SHEAVE, THE SAID WORK CABLE SUPPORTING MEANS INCLUDING A FRAMES MOUNTED UPON THE FOOT PORTIONS OF THE EXTENSION BOOM SECTION AND THE JIB BOOM SECTION. 